ten

Now that a new term has started I have gained new responsibilities. This is very good. Last term I was mostly doing nothing. I would just open up the library and go to reception once a week. And there were children’s classes and jy and devotionals as well, but there was a lot of time spent doing nothing. Now, I have character development class with grade 9A. I am also helping with grade 11 chemistry. I am also going to be helping teach swimming to the grade 5, 6 and 7s. I am so excited for this. I get to actually go in the water. I love the water. We’re going to start a book 6 too. I am very excited for the book 6.

There are two new youth, Heather from Oregon and Krista from Virginia. They are just great. Heather and I laugh a lot about everything. Sometimes we laugh too hard. One time, I was coming back to the dorms after evening snack (so it was quiet time) and I was laughing. Mrs. Mukendi (the matron) was around the dorms and she heard me laughing. She came and told me quiet time. My girls found this quite hilarious. We like to meet in the ablution after lights out and brush our teeth together. I look forward to it.

heather, who I love long time, and I

I feel like this picture is very defining of our relationship even though it kind of looks like she doesn’t like me.

I almost forgot, I have a Bemba name. First I gave myself one. I really liked it, it was Cipôwe. Then Peter told me that it meant poor, not hungry like I had thought. Well, it means hungry, but you’re hungry because you’re poor. So then I asked Shalom to come up with a better name for me. Now my name is Mapalo, it means blessing. Yesterday I met a small girl with the same name as me. I think I scared her.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the senior girls go for service at outside schools. Last term there were exams so they never left. I finally got to go on service with the girls this past week. We went to Golden Valley Basic School. The Zambian school system is different than at home. They have basic schools that go from grade 1 to grade 9. In grade 9 the students have to write nation-wide exams. If they pass then they are allowed to go to a high school. If they don’t they must repeat their year. This happens more often than you would think. Anyways, we played volleyball and netball with the students at the school. Well, I didn’t play I just watched, but the girls played. Apparently, there is a lot of trash talking. Of course, I don’t know what is being said because I don’t speak the language. Maybe I should trash talk, I’m pretty good at it.

I 100% forgot that during the break we went to an orphanage. It is called the Village of Hope and it was so nice. The owners treat the kids like their own. We went for a walk around the orphanage and then played games with the kids. They all live in little houses with a mum and an auntie. Oh, and they keep siblings together. It was really nice.

It is always so interesting leaving the school. It is remarkable how people live outside of the privilege of Banani. You can see it on the road into town, but actually being in the middle is a whole different story. The girls always ask me what I think of Africa, and to be honest I expect it to mostly be what it is outside the walls of Banani. Being here hasn’t really changed my views. I think that they have a really skewed perspective. I honestly don’t think they realize how privileged they are. Not everyone has what they have. They are definitely in the minority here, in the world. Even the lifestyle at Banani is super simple compared to home, and it is posh compared to the villages around here.

I have apparently become the mother to three children. Two of them I love a lot, one of them kind of annoys me but I like him all the same. Their names are Olinga, Jens, and Ishmael. Jens is Mrs. Mukendi’s son and I love him the most. I am bringing him home with me. I already asked him if he wants to come live in Canada, he said yes. Mrs. Mukendi said no, but I will work on her. I spend a lot of time chasing them. It’s probably one of my favourite activities.

This is my youngest son, Jens.

Here’s Olinga. He’s my first born.

I have no pictures of Ishmael, oops.

I really don’t like wearing shoes, and I take them off most chances I get. My girls get mad at me and tell me I’m going to get worms. I am slightly afraid, but not so afraid that I will put my shoes back on. Sorry Mary. Don’t worry though, I don’t go barefoot in strange places, only at Banani.

I also really like to climb trees. There is one tree in particular that I am rather fond of climbing. Once when I climbed it there were a lot of ants and I got scared and climbed down. The last time I climbed it I didn’t take into consideration the fact that I was wearing a chitenje and flip-flops. I don’t know why I was wearing shoes at all really. But, I got stuck. I had to be helped out of the tree.

before the terror started. This is Ackson, I liked to call him Ackson Valdez after the oil spill. Then, one day, I asked him if I annoyed him and he said yes so I stopped. Now, we are better friends.

now I am stuck and trying to get out with the help of heather.

I can’t express in words how much I love these boys

LYLT